Dear Colleague,

Twenty-third issue of our RESEARCH MANAGEMENT BRIEFING

1. SIERRA LEONE OPENS DISEASE RESEARCH LABORATORY
2. CLARK OPENS NEW MEDICAL RESEARCH AND LEARNING FACILITY AT AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY
3. SWEDEN AND INDIA STRENGTHEN IT COLLABORATION
4. UK ARTS COUNCIL ORGANISES EVENT ON WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSALS
5. JAPAN CONTRIBUTES TO USD2M IMPROVEMENTS TO NIGERIA S&T INFRASTRUCTURE
6. SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCH DIRECTOR QUITS IN ROW OVER AUTONOMY
7. DENMARK AND CANADA TO COLLABORATE IN NUTRIGENOMICS
8. INDUSTRY AND UNIVERSITIES WELCOME UK GOVERNMENT PLANS TO BOOST HEALTH RESEARCH
9. SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN WINS TRIP TO SPACE
10. UK ZOOMS AHEAD IN EUROPEAN SPACE CONTRIBUTIONS
11. GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES AUD55M FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
12. CENTRES UNVEIL STRATEGY TO BOOST SCOTTISH SCIENCE

1. SIERRA LEONE OPENS DISEASE RESEARCH LABORATORY

A new disease research laboratory has been launched in Sierra Leone, reports the Concord Times. The laboratory was unveiled by Daudi Mwakago, UN special representative of the Secretary General, who said the project was a clear result of the UN's commitment to rebuilding Sierra Leone.

The Kenema-based laboratory is intended as a research centre to diagnose diseases like lassa fever, polio and malaria. Abu Koroma , head of the Kenema government hospital, described the facility as a "step towards development in the medical field", with both national and international medical practitioners visiting the hospital for research.

2. CLARK OPENS NEW MEDICAL RESEARCH AND LEARNING FACILITY AT AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

Prime Minister Helen Clark has opened the new Auckland Medical Research Foundation Medical Sciences Learning Centre at The University of Auckland.

The new centre was funded through a NZD500,000 donation from the Auckland Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) to mark 50 years of support for medical research.

Iain Martin, dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, said that AMRF has consistently supported high quality medical education in conjunction with international quality research.

"Fifty years ago, the AMRF recognised that there were serious shortfalls in funding for medical research and decided to do something about it," he said. "The centre will be an invaluable resource, and is a further example of the faculty’s drive to redevelop its infrastructure so that all research is supported by state of the art facilities and technology."

3. SWEDEN AND INDIA STRENGTHEN IT COLLABORATION

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has given the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) the task of strengthening cooperation between Sweden and India in terms of information technology development.

The government wants Vinnova to identify and stimulate collaboration and general projects in e-management and e-health, which covers IT in health care. Vinnova has also been asked to help ensure that small businesses in India and Sweden are able to participate in the collaboration.

Sweden's research minister, Leif Pagrotsky, and his Indian counterpart Kapil Sibal signed a new agreement on research collaboration between the two countries on 9 December.

4. UK ARTS COUNCIL ORGANISES EVENT ON WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSALS

The Arts and Humanities Research Council is holding an event to teach potential grant applicants how to improve their chances of making a successful bid.

The event, in London on 3 February, is aimed particularly at practice-led researchers based in creative and performing arts departments who have little or no experience of applying for research funding, and will offer provide practical tips on preparing a research proposal.

Gail Lambourne, who is leading the event, said, "We want to give some support to people who don’t have a lot of experience of applying for funding. It may be that they are first-time PhD supervisors, or making their first application as part of a collaboration or research team. We want to encourage people not to be daunted by all the paperwork and go some way towards demystifying the application process."

5. JAPAN CONTRIBUTES TO USD2M IMPROVEMENTS TO NIGERIA S&T INFRASTRUCTURE

The Nigerian National Science, Technology and Innovation system has received a USD2 million boost to improve its infrastructure, reports the Daily Champion.

The project is being coordinated by UNESCO with money from Japan and Nigeria, and is aimed at re-structuring the country's science and technology infrastructure in Nigeria to improve inter-disciplinary research communication and strengthen the STI system.

6. SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCH DIRECTOR QUITS IN ROW OVER AUTONOMY

Xolela Mangcu has resigned from his post as director of South Africa's Human Sciences Research Council due to "political interference", reports Business Day.

Mangcu left following a public row with the council's new CEO, Olive Shisana, and his departure casts doubts on the continued independence of the HSRC amid fears that the government is seeking to impose greater restrictions on the supposedly autonomous organisation.

In his letter of resignation, Mangcu said the dispute with Shisana was a result of political meddling in HSRC activities. "I am of the firm view that the HSRC is no longer the free space of intellectual activity that I found when I arrived," he said.

Prior to his resignation, Mangcu made a series of criticisms of the government in the South African media. According to Mangcu several cabinet ministers were unhappy with his work which in turn put pressure on Shisana to curtail the activities of the HSRC. "I asked Dr Shisana to tell those respective cabinet ministers to back off, (but) she told me she could not do that because they give us work," Mangcu said.

He added that the HSRC now has to decide whether it is to remain a politically independent research organisation or become the "intellectual handmaidens of government". Shisana refused to comment on any of the allegations.

7. DENMARK AND CANADA TO COLLABORATE IN NUTRIGENOMICS

Researchers from Denmark and Canada are formulating a project in nutrigenomics, which uses genetic research to identify foodstuffs with potential health benefits for various population groups, reports engineering weekly Ingeniøren.

"Canada is very strong on instruments, but they have a need for alliances with competent European researchers," said Lisbeth Munksgaard, the director of Denmark's Centre for Advanced Food Studies (LMC), an umbrella organisation that co-ordinates food research.

Representatives from LMC and Genome Canada met at the end of November to discuss possible topics for future cooperation, including databases and bio-informatics, experimental nutrition and epidemiological research based on bio-banks.

They also outlined a model for increased innovation through an active involvement of private companies in the design and use of research projects.

8. INDUSTRY AND UNIVERSITIES WELCOME UK GOVERNMENT PLANS TO BOOST HEALTH RESEARCH

The BioIndustry Association (BIA), Universities UK and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have welcomed government plans for boosting investment in stem cell research and making the UK a world-class environment for health research and innovation overall.

Recently announced measures include more integration and coordination within the National Health Service, increased IT capability facilitating the recruitment of patients into clinical trials and collection of data, and reforms to improve performance and streamline regulatory procedures.

Aisling Burnand, chief executive of the BIA, said, "As a partner organisation in the UK Clinical Research Collaboration the BIA looks forward to an active dialogue with the Department of Health and others in order to ensure that the best structures are put in place to ensure the greatest benefit for patients. The UK is a world leader in medical research and these measures will help to secure this position."

Janet Finch, chair of UUK’s health committee, said, "This reorganisation of the way research funding is allocated for NHS clinical research is particularly good news. It means research funds will be protected and will enable the money to be directed at key priorities."

The organisations also praised the government's decision to invest an additional GBP50 million in stem cell research over the next two years.

The new money was announced last week following a report from the UK Stem Cell Initiative (UKSCI) - an expert body chaired by Sir John Pattison and set up by Chancellor Gordon Brown to outline a 10-year strategy for UK stem cell research. Finch said, "A continuing commitment to this important area of medical science is essential. Increased investment for stem cell research is vital to enable the UK to maintain its competitive position in this field."

The MRC welcomed Pattison's report into stem cell research in the UK and overseas. Colin Blakemore, MRC chief executive and member of the UKSCI panel said, "We are keen to play our part to the best of our ability to fulfill as many of the recommendations as we can of the Pattison Report.

The MRC is increasing the resources it’s putting into stem cell research."

The MRC said it has worked closely with the UK Stem Cell Foundation ahead of the report to set up a shared process to review applications for clinical trials for stem cell therapy. The research council is planning to spend up to another GBP5 million on the second phase of the UK Stem Cell Bank.

9. SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN WINS TRIP TO SPACE

The second ever South African to go to space will be a woman, reports the Cape Argus. Julie Krause, a data capture worker, won a competition run by the First National Bank and e-bucks to become one of the first 150 people to take flight aboard a commercial space aircraft expected to go into service by 2008.

The journey will last two hours and costs USD102,000. Elon Musk, a South African billionaire and owner of an orbital rocket, said that the limitations faced by early space travel pioneers are still relevant today. "The greatest barriers to widespread space travel are reliability and cost," he said.

10. UK ZOOMS AHEAD IN EUROPEAN SPACE CONTRIBUTIONS

The UK will play a major role in Aurora, the European Space Agency's (ESA) space exploration programme and in ESA's environmental science programme, David Sainsbury, the science minister, has confirmed.

The UK has subscribed 108.1 million euros to the Aurora programme that features a robotic mission to Mars - ExoMars - to investigate if there is life on the planet and study its suitability for human missions.

Speaking after the ESA ministerial meeting in Berlin on Monday and Tuesday this week, Sainsbury said, "Aurora will build on last week's exciting Mars Express results which provide the first concrete evidence of significant amounts of water under the surface of Mars. As a major contributor, the UK will have a leading role in this programme which is set to improve our understanding of Mars and the Solar System."

The UK has also made a major contribution to the rest of the ESA science programme - 205m euros via the Natural Environment Research Council to the Earth Observation Envelope Programme (EOEP-3). The UK has also subscribed to the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme and the Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems programme.

11. GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES AUD55M FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH

The Australian government has announced more than AUD55 million for health and medical research through the National Health and Medical Research Council.

More than 280 grants have been awarded to 51 research institutes, hospitals and universities across the country for research into the causes and treatment of diseases such as asthma, cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Part of the funding is also being used to establish the inaugural Betty Cuthbert Scholarship and Fellowship to support research into multiple sclerosis.

12. CENTRES UNVEIL STRATEGY TO BOOST SCOTTISH SCIENCE

Scotland's four science centres have outlined how they plan to help the country become a world leader in science and research in a newly published Science Centres Strategy. The centres, in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, operate primarily as visitor attractors and were set up to promote science education and encourage innovation.

Launching the strategy in Aberdeen, Nicol Stephen, deputy First Minister, underlined the importance of each centre in engaging the public, industry and other stakeholders with science.

Stephen said he is determined to see Scotland as a 'science nation'. "To deliver, we need to encourage more young people to get interested in science. Our Science Centre’s Network has a crucial role to play in developing the enthusiasm of young people in science and technology," he said.

The four-year strategy was drawn up following a series of reports commissioned by the Scottish Executive, and outlines how the centres will work together with the Executive to promote science. The Executive intends to spend GBP13 million on developing the centres.

 ------------------

ACU members can sign up for a free 3 week trial to the online. For further information and a demonstration of the service, contact Jon Thornton at jt@researchresearch.com or call him on +44 20 7216 6531